The East West Road Construction: Citizens Quest gives update

The Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative, an accountability advocacy group, basking on the outcome of their previous advocacy, which contributed to the resumption of work on East West road, took a time out to visit the site for a firsthand experience.

 

Having previously visited the Port Harcourt- Akwa Ibom route of the highway, the group set out to inspect the Port Harcourt -Bayelsa route of the project.

 

At the Nkoplu/Rumuigbo- Ahoada axis of the East-West road, about 43km stretch, which is the Section 2, sub section 1 of the project, the Citizen's Quest interacted with the representatives of Setraco, the construction giants, handling the 103km stretch of that section of the road.

 

The National Publicity Secretary of Citizen Quest, Mr. Francis Udoka Ndimkoha in a statement circulated to journalists stated that he learnt from the project site Engineer, Mr. Khaled that the point at which they are now is the underground drainage system construction which began from the bad spot at the Nkpolu/Rumuigbo intersection and terminates at the Rumuagholu/Awalama point, where the drains empty into an existing canal. Khaled stated that Setraco decided to create a new route for the drains, through the community that will enable a free flow of water, rather than channeling the drainage through the Rumuokoro axis.

 

He further said that the new route created had a huge unbudgeted financial implication, for the settlement of the community, which though was not previously captured in the contract, but which the company was ready to do to get the job done.

 

Citizens Quest also confirmed that the project is going on and its timeline is strictly followed.

 

The Citizens Quest also spoke with Mr. Bobby Ezekiel, a former youth leader of one of the Nkpolu communities who said he was elated on the return of setraco construction company to the site and he was hopeful they'll effectively put an end to the flooding issue in the community after 4years of suffering, while aggressively pursuing the completion of the road project. He assured the support of the Nkoplu people to the company, to ease their community relations effort.

 

At the Ahoada end of the road, the Citizens Quest spoke with representatives from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, led by Mr. Joseph Akpan at Okokobo town near Okogbo, being the sub -section 2 of the Section 2 of the East West road which starts from Eleme in Rivers State to Kaiama in Bayelsa State and spans 60km.

 

Mr. Ekpen, of the Quality and control unit of the Ministry stated that the project is going on schedule and to the best quality.

 

Governor Wike’s Enduring Legacies, Difficult To Surpass – Rt. Hon. Dekor

The member representing Khana/Gokana federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor says Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has demystified the challenges of the Office of Governor in few years in office by achieving much more than expected on assumption of office in 2015.

The federal lawmaker took the position  after a critical assessment of all the quality projects commissioned across Rivers State by the Wike administration.

He said the visionary leadership of the governor has turned the state into one stop shop of massive infrastructural developments.

According to the Ogoni-born politician, notwithstanding the impression anyone has about Governor Wike, no one will reasonably deny him his rightful place in the annals of the political history of the state.

Rt. Hon. Dekor believes these enduring legacies of Governor Wike have stood him out among his peers and will remain a living testimony to posterity that there was once a Leader in the state who changed the leadership narratives of Rivers State.

“That the flyover bridges that used to be only mentioned in budget proposals by previous administrations have been transformed into visible and usable projects sounds like magic which only a man of Wike’s political stature could dare. I commend his courage and bravery, vision and administrative sagacity”, the federal lawmaker declared.

He enjoined all his constituents and Rivers people generally irrespective of political leanings to rally round the governor and encourage him to do more while his tenure lasts because such rare species of humans are not easy to come by all the time.

Rt. Hon Dekor observed that the avalanche of road projects being commissioned around the state has finally silenced Governor Wike’s  critics who accuse him of concentrating his development efforts only in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

What happened, he said, was that the massive flyovers being constructed at strategic points in the state capital which were not thought possible before now drew the people’s attention from the ongoing road projects in the rural areas until they were due for commissioning.

“We thank His Excellency for his understanding and wisdom which has greatly paid off, as most of those criticisms were meant to divert his attention but he ignored them to prove he is wiser and more politically mature.

Today, all of us are the beneficiaries to the glory of God,” the federal lawmaker noted.

Monica commends Umahi for making 60 Ebonyians millionaires

  .... Describes him as an enigma and a divine Gift to Nigeria

In line with the classical words of James Allen that "No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks" and the legendary assertion of Jacques Maritain that "Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy", Technical Adviser to the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State on Media, Lady Monica Chidinma Ada Eze has expressed warm gratitude to the South/Eastern State Governor and Chairman, South/East Governors Forum, Apostle Dave Nweze Umahi,Fnse,Fnate for giving a thought to the lives of his people especially, in the critical areas of human capital development and poverty alleviation which has continued to earn him commendations from within and outside the shores of Nigeria.

In a statement made available to media houses, Lady Monica Ada Eze described the implementation and fulfillment of the Governor's promise to raise 60 millionaires in the state as trailblazing and the reflection of a leader whose passion for service is result oriented.

With the groundbreaking record, TA Monica Eze confessed that Umahi is stocked with the requisite capabilities and potential to build a  Nigeria where citizens confidence in government can be restored within record time through the implementation of policies and programs that have direct bearing on the populace.

At a period of global economic downturn occassioned by the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, where some state governments find it uneasy to implement key projects and pay salaries of civil servants, Lady Monica Eze said Governor Umahi defiled the odds in a bid to ensure that the good people of Ebonyi State feel the impacts of government, adding "that can only be the way of a responsible administration.

"pandemic or no pandemic, His Excellency has continued to implement legendary projects and execute welfare schemes targeted at lifting thousands of citizens from extreme poverty" TA Monica said.

A good number of people may have taken as mere joke, the Governor's pledge to ensure that 60 Ebonyians across the State were lifted from the dunghill of poverty and be turned Millionaires before the end of 2019. But true to his words, Lady Monica said the government can proudly boast with facts that 60 Ebonyians are brand new Millionaires courtesy of Governor Umahi.

 This feat amongst many other revolutionary trends and records of his administration simply put Governor Umahi in a leadership pedestal different from the crop of leaders in the present day Nigeria.

Lady Monica Chidinma Ada Eze who also doubles as the founder and President of David Umahi Nweze Akubaraoha Ebonyi Transformation Agenda (DUNAETA), a grassroots NGO based in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State further highlighted some other revolutionary feats that single out Gov.
umahi as an enigma:
 
Under hard economic challenge facing the entire world occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic, one can proudly say that Governor Umahi, aside embarking upon the construction of one of the best International Airports, 13 quality and well constructed Flyovers, 600km concrete pavements and concrete roads across the width and breath of Ebonyi State, biggest and best shopping mall in Africa and a place of worship for God that can take over 5,000 crowd; this man of the future and visionary leader empowered over 10,000 youths with between 250k and 1m. The historical Appointment of over 1500 aides as means of empowernment, one of the highest by any State Government at this period.

Furthermore, Gov. Umahi was able to pay  hospital bills for over 2000 patients and discharged them with rice, wrapper and N5000 cash during the Christmas season alone and gave Christmas gifts and palliatives to over 2000 old people across the state.

While many States battle to pay salaries, Governor Umahi not only ensures that Civil Servants are paid promptly, but in addition, paid extra 10k to every worker with 5kg bag of rice during Christmas. He also extended Christmas largesse to Ophanage homes, Churches, Mosques, NGOs, Professional groups etc across the State.

Lady Monica, aka Ada Ebonyi postulated that with what Governor Umahi has done in Ebonyi State, he has shown more than enough political will and administrative  competence to fix the myriad of challenges troubling the country, adding that Umahi is the real Mr. Project of Nigeria."

Yoruba women scold Nnamdi Kanu, back police chief

 Notable women in the South-West on Tuesday scolded the leader of the Indigenous people of BiafraI (POD), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu for creating enmity and cutting a bad image for the South-East.

‘’We feel very sorry for the people who listen to the sermons of the mischief maker and the voice of disunity, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu’’ the women said.

Expressing concern over the potential implications of statements credited to the IPOD leader, the women condemned Kanu for his parochial reasoning and hatred for Hausa-Fulani.

‘’The statements portray Nnamdi Kanu as one who is ignorant of the police hierarchy in Nigeria. As it concerns Oyo State and the directives of the Inspector General of Police, we feel very strongly, that it is very wrong for Kanu to urge the CP to flout the orders of the IGP’’.

In a three-page statement issued in Akure, the women harped on the need for unity and mutual understanding within the South-West.

Signed by the Chairperson of Yoruba Women in Government (YWIG), Chief Fumilayo Adesanwo, the women poured encomiums on Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko.

They underscored the IGP’s focused and purposeful leadership, the CP’s academic and professional credentials and her vision to set a record in Oyo State’s security history.

The women also emphasized Onadeko’s demonstrable competence, discipline, loyalty and integrity.

Part of the statement reads’’ Another round of ethnic feuding in Oyo State started last week. One Sunday Adeyemo, well known as Sunday Igboho, alongside his followers stormed the Fulani settlement in Igangan, Ibarapa to eject Seriki Fulani, Salihu Abdukadir’’

This antagonistic position towards Fulani can hardly be described as the best thing to do.

It is very obvious that this action appeared not to have gone down well with Nigerians.

However, the order by the Inspector General of Police that Sunday Igboho should be arrested came as a joy to many.

But much ado has been created over the reported order to the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko, to arrest Sunday Igboho.

Indeed, some Nigerians in Diaspora have attempted to denigrate the Inspector General of Police for directing the Oyo State Police Command to arrest Igboho.

For sure, the good people of Oyo State have every obligation to fight crimes ranging from kidnapping, killings, rape to invasion of farmlands at all cost but without promoting anarchy,

Forcefulness, dissent, general bad manners and unruly behavior should not be encouraged in a decent society.

Nigerians should disregard the various lies being peddled by the self-acclaimed Igbo leader against the Inspector General of Police and the Oyo State Commissioner of Police. There is no plan to stop the agenda of the people of the South-West. There is no plan to ferments enmity between the South-East and the South-West.

We commend the Police for doing what they are statutorily assigned to do.

We urge the Oyo State Police Commissioner not to succumb to the propaganda and blackmail daily oozing out of the mouths of some enemies of Nigeria.

We urge the Oyo State Commissioner of Police to ignore calls by the self-acclaimed Igbo leader in Diaspora to resign from office.

 It was reassuring to see how thoughtfully the Inspector General of Police responded to the incident.

The police must go the whole hog to put a stop to the acts of lawlessness of some people in the country.

We commend Governor Seyi Makinde for being responsible and responsive to the needs of all.

We urge him to continue to support the police and other security agencies.

We also commend President Muhammadu Buhari for showing that lawlessness and brigandage are alien to our culture

We call on Oyo youths to extend to Hausa/Fulani in the state a hand of fellowship, friendship and brotherhood so that together, they could position the state for economic growth.

We call on the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor to call this Igbo self-acclaimed leader in Diaspora to order

Security of life and property is so fundamental. We urge the police to discharge their duties to the government and heroic people of Oyo State and Nigeria.

Lastly, we appeal for professionalism, restraints and understanding on the part of Igbo and Yoruba youths.

Group Uncovers Plot to Scuttle East-West Road Project in Rivers State

 Just as the news of the return to site of contractors handling the construction of the long abandoned East-West road project was yet to simmer down properly, Citizens Quest For Truth Initiative CQ4TI, an advocacy group, has uncovered an unsavoury plot by some self-styled community leaders to put paid to the developmental strides of the President Mohammadu Buhari's administration.

 

Reports have it that one of the youths said to be related to the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Victor Amadi and some indigenes of Rumuagholu Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, are demanding payment of a whopping sum of Fifty Million (N50million) Naira from Setraco Construction Company before work on the Nkpolu axis of the road would continue. The community leaders have maintained that SETRACO was yet to reach out to them before entering the community for the execution of the project.

 

A statement Jointly signed by CQ4TI National Secretary, Meinyie Okpukpo and Francis UdokaNdimkoha, National Publicity Secretary noted that “but our search for the truth reveals that the company is billed to construct a road in the community, after the construction of the new drainage.”

 

The statement reads:

 

"Citizens Quest findings, however, revealed a political undercurrent from the high echelon in the state to ensure that the project, especially the Rivers State section, does not see the light of the day, a situation that is aimed at ridiculing President Buhari and the Hon. Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

 

“We are not unmindful of the fact that those whose properties were demolished for encroaching on the right of way have already been handsomely rewarded by the federal government. It is therefore surprising that the CDC Chairman, who our findings reveal, owns no single property around the project site, should allow himself to be used as an agent of underdevelopment of Rumuagholu Community and, by extension, Rivers State.

 

‘We therefore call on the Government of Rivers State to rein in these agents of backwardness, (should it not be an accomplice) to forestall any form of face-off that might ultimately scuttle the timely realisation of the project.

 

‘On its part, the Federal Government should, as a matter of urgent national importance, mobilise security at the various project sites while Contractors deliver on their corporate social responsibility to communities. This way, the contractors can deliver quality projects and on record time, too.

 

“We also appeal to the Community to be patient with the Contractors as road projects are done in milestones and within the availability of funds.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citizens Quest impressed with the quality and pace of work at East-West Road

 

….Says President Buhari has breathed Life into the Road

 

Citizens Quest for truth initiative, a non-governmental has expressed delight over the quality and pace of work at the East-West Road, adding that  President Mohammadu Buhari has Breathed Life into the Road

 

The above view was expressed by Chigozie Chimaraoke Okere, Citizens Quest’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary in a statement circulated to journalists.

 

According to him, “The story of the deplorable state of the East-West Road has consistently left sour tastes in the mouth of Nigerians, especially, Niger deltans. This unfortunate situation outlived several administrations that had paid lip service to the completion of this all-important corridor into the wealth basket of the nation. Little wonder not a few Nigerians were elated when President Buhari undertook to bring to fruition the desire and expectations of the Niger deltans for the completion of the road.” 

 

He recalled that in 2020, via a Press Statement, the Federal Government had ordered contractors on East-West road to return to the site after several exhaustive meetings with the former handlers of the road, the Presidential Infrastructural Development Fund, PIDF and the Contractors, Reynolds Construction Company and SETRACO Nig Ltd.

 

Chigozie further recalled that there had been a stalemate on the road works since 2016 which resulted to a presidential order, moving the project from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to the PIDF.

 

The statement reads further:

 

“Not much could be achieved as Contractors were owed historical debts. Upon his appointment as Minister, the former Akwa Ibom Governor whose passion for development earned him the title, "The Uncommon Transformer" hit the ground running and in less than one year, he was able to get the Presidential nod to take back the project to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and with a refund of the sum of N19. 7bn, being money released by the Ministry of Finance to PIDF in 2018, for the payment of Contractors on the road.

 

“After several beauraucratic bottlenecks slowing down the process of transfer of the project and release of the funds, Akpabio achieved an unprecedented milestone in the release of the funds to the Contractors, and compelled them to return to site.

 

 

“In our quest therefore to ascertain the claim by the contractors to have returned to site, the Citizens Quest for Truth Initiatives, (an Advocacy group concerned about the citizens and how the decisions, policies and laws of the governments affect the ordinary Nigerian), on Tuesday, January, 19, undertook  on-the-spot assessment of the project sites.           

 

“At the border between Rivers State and Akwa Ibom State, where Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) is handling a massive section of the East-West road construction, the team was impressed with the quality and pace of work as heavy machines were also seen facilitating the entire process at the site.

 

“Interestingly, the bridge linking Rivers State and Akwa Ibom State is beginning to wear a new look as the base for the extensions has been made visible, the working  materials were also on ground too.

 

“The team also visited the Chainage 2 of the East-West road construction around Rumuodara axis in Rivers State.  The team discovered that SETRACO was handling that area of the road and it will cut across the Eliozu axis to Rumuokoro, down to the popular Nkpolu Junction, all the way to Emohua LGA and Ahaoda axis in Rivers State.

 

“When the CQ team spoke with some of the Engineers on site about the new deep drainage being constructed along the Rumuodara axis of the road, they said the essence is to curtail the flooding that has contributed in the failing of the Rumuodara sections of the East-West road. Heavy excavation machines and workers were also seen on site doing their work diligently.

 

“Recall that Chainage 1 and 2 of the road that is at Mkpolu and Rumudara junctions the road had been cut off due to excessive flooding occasioned by indiscrimate construction works by independent developers, on the drainage of the road.

 

“At the Emohua axis of the road, SETRACO is not relenting in the company's promise to complete its section of the project before the end of 2021. The Citizens Quest members confirmed the asphalting of the Emohua LGA axis down to Elele Alimini community.

 

“Earlier last year, the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio had described the East West road as very dear to the people of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.  So to make sure that the presidential directive was implemented, he is working closely with the construction companies to avert further agitation of the people of Niger Delta towards the road and to ensure the completion is speedily done.

 

“Our next stop will be at the Mkpolu, Runuigbo Junction and the Ahoada axis of the road to ascertain the level of work ongoing there.

 

“So far, our group is impressed with the quality and pace of work.

 

“While we commend the Federal Government for responding to the demands of the Citizens, we also wish to expressly request that funding is readily made available to ensure that there are no longer future impediments until the road in completed at the timeline set by the President during last year's Democracy Day celebration. It is also our expectation that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is given the support needed to FastTrack development in the region through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. We sincerely commend him for the singular resolve to redesign and expand the road to six lanes from the Eleme Junction to the Akpajo bridge and beyond in order to contain the present realities of traffic congestion occasioned by Road users particularly to and fro the Eleme Petrochemicals, Indorama, Onne Seaport and NNPC Refinery, amongst others.”

 

 

 

Chinese Loans: Again, Eze assures no peril to Nigeria's sovereignty

 ...Explains the monumental loss the S/South, S/East & N/East will

 

... Charges NASS to resist urge of being used against the development interest of the Old Eastern region

 

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People's Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has again, allayed the fear that China may soon invade the country to take over critical national assets to settle Nigeria's sovereign debts.

 

In a statement made available to media houses, Eze, who had earlier lent his voice against the viral misinterpretation of the loan clause to serve some whimsical interests said, there is need for proper public enlightenment and  understanding of the subject to save Nigerians the unnecessary trending kerfuffle.

 

Recall that China has also come out to deny any clause on the loan agreement transferring Nigeria's sovereignty to her. This was made known by the Chinese foreign Ministry where the country denied imposing it's will on the internal affairs of African countries. The statement equally debunked the rumour that China seeks selfish political gains in her development supports to African countries.

 

Going forward, Chief Eze  said the loan amount in controversy which stands at $500 Million is critical to the funding and completion of the 2000 Kilometers Port Harcourt - Maiduguri rail project (Eastern Rail Line), which he said is of cardinal importance to the city of Port Harcourt and the rest of the South/East.

 

The party Chief opined that the project which  connects Port Harcourt, Owerri, Nnewi, Anambra, Awka and Abakeliki also links Gombe and Yobe and will only provoke speedy economic acceleration. Chief Eze said halting the loan will amount to sheer wickedness and unfairness because the project, when completed, will generate jobs in massive hundreds to people of the South/East and some part of the South/South, improve the economies of states and generate revenue to the Federal and state governments of the South-East region, as well as Port Harcourt Yobe, Gombe and Maiduguri.

 

In further pacifying the panicky mode which citizens have been thrown into by the fictitious interpretation of a clause inserted in the loan agreement, the party chief said it is an Internationally and legally recognised standard of practice and referred Nigerians to his previous publication on the subject matter for better clarification, stressing that the country is safe and her sovereignty unshaken and intact.

 

Eze noted with grief, the high-tech politics playing-out to frustrate the plan of the APC led Government to revive the rail system within the three key regions of the country that could aid the country to revive it's economy.

 

Without any doubt, every Nigerian is fully aware that the South South is the main sustainer of the economy of Nigeria through her resources, mainly Oil, while the South East is the major purveyor and engine oil through which the economy is sustained as the hub of the commercial activities of this Nation with the North East as the Food Basket of the country which if harnessed will not only feed the entire populace, but will also provide other means of raising resources apart from oil to sustain the economy and enhance sources of livelihood.

 

The importance of these regions that provides major resources that sustain the economy of this country and to the overall being of Nigeria need not be overemphasized so with few member of a cabal plotting to deny these regions the required loan to facilitate the provision of modern rail system already provided for the South West and some parts of the North Central and North West is not only unpatriotic but sheer wickedness.

 

One need not consult an economist to imagine the monumental loss Nigeria particularly, these regions will incur should this plot to deny these regions a modern rail system sees the light of day.

 

Eze highlighted that the South East is the commercial hub of Nigeria and require proper transport system to thrive economically. He posited that it will remain easier and cheaper  to smuggle shoes from Aba to Cameroon than any part of the North East without the railway system in the East. Eze expressed worries that the Igbos suffer all kinds of losses including robbery attacks, too much payment to police and customs in moving containers from Lagos to the East.

 

He reiterated that the East remains the largest producers of Palm oil in West Africa and to transport palm oil containers from East to other parts of Nigeria by road is a business killer plot.

 

He said any Nigerian patriot will definitely sob for the South South, South Eastern and North Eastern Regions, should the Chinese Loan to revive the rail system in these regions turns out a failure.

 

Eze appealed to the National Assembly not to fall into the hands of the enemies of the regions and support the Buhari's Administration in its efforts to fulfill the APC Pledge to the Easterners by approving the Loan required in this regard.

 

Should this plot scale through, the party Chief said, the Easterners and North Easterners will  understand who their enemies are; not President Buhari, not  Amaechi but the cabal that wants to destroy Nigeria if their unholy plot to govern Nigeria come 2023 fails.

 

Similarly, the party chieftain quoted the  Debt Management Office as saying that the total value of loans taken by Nigeria from China as at March 31, 2020, was $3.121 billion. This represents only about 3.94% of Nigeria’s total public debt of $79.303 as at March 31, 2020. Furthermore, in terms of external sources of funds, loans from China accounted for 11.28% of the external debt stock of $27.67 at the same date. He said the report appropriately points that China is not a major source of funding for the Nigerian Government.

 

According to Eze and the DMO report, the afore-mentioned loans are concessionary loans, with interest rates of 2.5% per annum, tenor of 20 years, and a moratorium of 7 years.

He said Nigerians could get further details about the loan terms from the DMO website.

 

Further quoting the DMO, Chief Eze said total loans from China is $3.121 and are project-tied and listed some to include: The Nigerian Railway Modernization Project (Idu-Kaduna section), Abuja Light Rail Project, Nigerian Four Airport Terminals Expansion Project (Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt), Nigerian Railway Modernization Project (Lagos-Ibadan section), and Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Abuja-Keffi- Makurdi Road Projects.

 

As stated by the DMO, Eze said the impacts of these loans are not only evident but visible. For instance, the Idu-Kaduna Rail line has become a major source of transportation between Abuja and Kaduna.

 

Also, the new International Airport in Abuja, has improved air transportation for the populace, while the Lagos-Ibadan rail line will ease traffic on the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

 

He called on Nigerians to support President Mohammadu Buhari and the Transportation Minister, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to deliver more dividends to the Nigerian people.

 

Ngeregbara, Mba collapse Rivers PDP/Abe camps in Andoni

 

... Commends Andoni PDP for protesting Wike's ceding the Ogoni/Ibani axis to Abe

... Assures Ikuru of heroical reception whenever he decides to come back home particularly now that PDP no longer exist in Andoni

... Shocked Wike places Abe incommunicado With the Brick House

As the cracks in the walls of the Rivers State Chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) gets hollow, following plans by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to cede power in some local government areas to the Senator Magnus Abe led dissident camp of defiant progressives in the planned hot-dog and illegal council polls which appears to be swaddled in an undemocratic scheme of hollow party suzerainty in a bid to hunt perceived internal opponents in the umbrella party and at the same time decorate Senator Abe with a pseudo-relevance in the leadership of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka has commended repentant allies of the former Rivers South/East Senator and opposition party members from Andoni local government area, for returning to the mainstream fold of the All Progressives Congress.

In a statement made available to media houses, Chief Eze expressed gratitude to the good people of Andoni for collectively resolving to part ways with the Peoples Democratic Party and the Senator Magnus Abe led group of unconscious and conscienceless mortals, who have suddenly turned politics into a mere merchandise  in the pursuit of their selfish private vendetta, haven been hoodwinked into the dangerous circle of Gov. Wike's anti-people political mercenary for some meagre incentives to supplement their sources of livelihoods.

According to the party chief, Andoni is a very important Local Government in the political equation of Rivers State being the home Local Government of the incumbent National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus;.Chief Tele Ikuru, former Deputy Governor of Rivers State and former Rivers State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.

Prior to now, Andoni local government area served as a stronghold of the umbrella party in Rivers State, but given the massive defection of key leaders of the party and stakeholders and members of the Abe led group, Chief Eze said the formal cessation of the Peoples Democratic Party led Government in Rivers State by 2023 is a prophecy foretold and actualised.

Leading the project of ending the People's Democratic Party and the presence of the very confused and misguided Group of Senator Abe's followers in Andoni was a grassroot mobilizer and one of the most popular politicians from Andoni, a onetime Senatorial Aspirant and former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Christian Mba. Mba who led Hon. Emmanuel Eneyor and thousands of PDP faithful and Abe's allies to what is now described as the death knell for PDP and the end to the satanic plots of Abe to decimate APC in Rivers State.

He said Andoni is part of the Local Government Areas Governor Nyesom Wike has ceded to Abe and his group to compensate them for their satanic acts and further empower them for the renewed task of ensuring that the APC goes into extinction in Rivers State while embarrassing perceived opponents within the PDP, including Prince Uche Secondus - the National Chairman of PDP and Engr. Tele Ikuru, former Rivers Deputy Governor and relegate them to the background as having lost out in the politics of Andoni and the State at large.

The party Chief said the plot to cede Andoni to Abe and his group informed the mass movement of both PDP members and Abe's group into the progressive party.  He wooed both Prince Uche Secondus and Engr. Tele Ikuru to follow suit as the Local Government has recorded no reasonable achievements since the assumption of office by Gov. Wike and his hoodwinked umbrella party.

With the development, Eze said Prince Uche Secondus and Tele Ikuru, who for sometime now have shunned events organised by Wike and his government are seen recently attending government functions in a bid to causing Gov. Wike to have a change of heart as regards the inclusion of  Andoni amonh the Local Government Areas to be ceded to Abe, whose misfortune in the politics of Rivers State is taking a dangerous dimension.

Eze a very close associate to both Wike, Secondus, Ikuru and Abe assures Engr. Ikuru and the remnants of the PDP in Andoni of heroical welcome home to the All Progressives Congress, the party that will form the next Government in Rivers State whenever they decide to come back home highlighting that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi whose love for both Secondus, Ikuru and Abe is obvious, is ever ready to welcome them back to the party that will improve the fortunes of the good people of Andoni LGA.

Eze who wept for Senator Abe whose political future has been wrapped with uncertainties based on his miscalculations especially, the biting of the fingers that once fed him quoted Mr. Kennedy Friday, Abe's Publicist as saying, “with Hon. Mba who is one of our most outspoken Leaders leaving us we are finished as a Group"

Reacting to their acceptance and readmission into the mainstream of APC, Hon. Chris Mba a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly accused Senator Magnus Abe  and his Co – travellers of collaborating with Governor Wike and PDP to sabotage APC and ridicule, Rt. Hon. Dr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and as a good Christian, I can no longer play a spoiler game that is detrimental to the progress and emancipation of Rivers State.

It is fact that both Abe, Aguma and most leaders of the group were in touch with Governor Wike and the PDP in the sinister plot to dismantle and decimate APC in Rivers State. Most of us seeing the treacherous nature of Abe's group worked tirelessly behind the scene to convince the Senator and his friends to reconcile their perceived differences and abandon acts of treachery in the overall  interest of the APC but no avail.

Mba stated further that as part of the plan to destabilise the APC,  Abe’s team was planning to collaborate with the PDP during the Local Government elections by fielding candidates in defiance of the position  of the APC. The truth stands, " that only the party led by Isaac Ogbobula had the right to present the official position of the APC, emphasising as a lawyer that Abe and his Co – travellers were to pick other party platforms to field candidates in the local elections.

Mba hammered Abe further maintaining that he discovered that Senator Abe was busy pursuing personal gain while misleading some unsuspecting members of the party who are under his spell disclosing that Senator Abe had no interest in a peaceful resolution of the crisis that is being stoked in the APC, saying Abe and his henchmen were on a mission of destabilisation.

This is homecoming for me. When I spoke with our leader, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, I told him that I am a political prodigal son and that I am coming back to my political family. I told him that he should have a place in his heart to forgive me and he said he has nothing against me as we have come a long way.

Mba stated, "gathered here today are not paperweight politicians, but heavyweights and grassroots politicians. I took a deep thought about the progress of our party. I feel pained that some people are trying to drag the party backward. They are planning to do all they can to weaken the party and thereafter empty themselves into the opposition party.

Reacting to this new dawn in the politics of Rivers State, the Leader of APC in Adoni, the Iroko and the former Commissioner Of Works in Rivers State, President General of Free Rivers Initiative, former member of House Of Reps that represented Andoni at the National Assembly, one of those candidates that contested against Chief Nyesom Wike for the gubernatorial ticket of PDP in 2015, Hon. Engr. Ngerebara Sampson welcomes the PDP people in Andoni and those Loyal to Magnus Abe into the APC.

"This man of vision highlighted, "Let me state this obvious fact for those who may not have known. Hon Mba is a long time friend of our leader, HE, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

You recall that Hon. Chris Mba represented the good people of Andoni local Govt in the State House of Assembly from 1999 -2003. During which period our leader held sway as the Hon. Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Both of them, indeed, had good relationships. The result of that relationship gave Egbormung community in Andoni, the Sand filling project. Hon. Mba himself got an appointment as a Member of Due Process in Rivers State.

Both Christian Mba and his community Egbormung benefited from the good gestures of our leader ,when he was Governor of Rivers state.

Both , Hon. Mba and Hon. Emmanuel Eneyo ,former, Executive Chairman of Andoni Local Govt CouncilI , former Ex-Official Member of APC  Rivers State are politicians with proven perspicacity . I am therefore not surprised with their decision to reunite with their colleagues in the mainstream.

This reunion will surely brighten the fortune of APC in Andoni LGA.

The arithmetic of winning elections in Andoni LGA is very simple to the informed minds. With the coming into the mainstream by Hon Mba, Hon. Emmanuel and others, wards 6,7 and 8 of Andoni LGA are closed to any political intruder."

Let me close this message by calling on others who have gone astray to emulate Hon. Christian Mba and retrace their steps and join us in building our party to success.

Governor Wike who is at a loss on the happenings at Andoni has since kept Senator Magnus Abe and Hon. Aguma incommunicado until they explain the hurricane and earthquake that took place in Andoni and the relevance of their plot to terminate the APC in Rivers State.

Present at the reception ceremony were the leader of the APC in Adoni LGA and former Commissioner of Works, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara; former Chairman Andoni Local Government Area, Hon. Orom Nte Ereforokuma; Elder Sampson Egop, Dr. Nsan Iragunima, Chief Emmanuel Ibodeng, PDP Leaders amongst others.

Senator Akpabio and NDDC Scavengers

  Written By Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe 

A few days ago, some youth groups in the Niger Delta region aired what they termed their resentment in the appointment of Mr Effiong Okon Akwa as Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari. One of the groups, Uhrobo Youth Leaders Council (UYLC) was said to have dragged the Honourable Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio before a Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, over the said appointment of the new NDDC helmsman. The UYLC stands commended for its civilised method. Some other youths, who claimed to be of Uhrobo extraction, engaged in a theatre of the absurd by blocking the ever-busy East West road, thereby causing untold hardship on travelers who ply that road. While it is inconsequential to dwell on the cursing spree and death wish on the Minister as they poured libation on the expressway, it must be stressed that much as people have the right to vent their steam, such action should not impinge on the right of way of other law-abiding citizens.

It is trite knowledge that informed Urhobo youths are not part of the said action, but a few disgruntled hirelings masquerading as youths of the revered ethnic nationality. This is a clear case of the hands of Jacob in the garb of Esau.  

The use of anti-democratic tendencies by overt beneficiaries of democratic norms, to distract the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta and, by extension, President Buhari, must be condemned and stands condemned, by every right-thinking Niger Deltan. One begins to wonder the rationale behind the conscription of youths to block the ever-busy East-West road, if not to discredit President Buhari.  

Players in the NDDC political industry are not finding it difficult to situate the reason behind the incessant attacks on President Buhari and the Hon. Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Akpabio. The outright rejection of the ill-fated Obudu and Okumagba Board, even after being screened by the Senate, has remained the albatross on the neck of the Senate Deputy President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. He had tactically positioned the two men in order to take absolute control of the NDDC, but according to what we say in the Nigerian parlance, “God pass dem.” The macabre dance steps of those youths are in tandem with the quick drumbeats of Senator Omo-Agege.  Could these be happening on the wrong assumption that President Buhari rarely bite? Sometimes, one is tempted to wish these mundane scripts were being played out in an Obasanjo era. Audu Ogbe’s experience as National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during Obasanjo’s administration readily comes to mind here. 

How can a man who prides himself as “leader of the South-South APC” continue to exhibit flagrant disregard for the President and Commander-in-Chief, thereby hampering whatever successes the President and his party would have recorded? 

Recall that the Interim Management Committee under the leadership of Prof. Pondei was made of no effect following what Femi Adesina, Presidential Spokesman on Media, described as “plethora of litigations and a restraining order issued recently against the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC by a Federal High Court in Abuja.” Since therefore there was no room for vacuum in governance, and considering the fact that the leadership echelon in the NDDC have been embroiled, over time, in the obvious rot and stench in the Commission, the President and Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, considered it expedient to appoint an untainted hand to oversee the running of the Commission until the conclusion of the on-going forensic audit.

Worthy of note is the fact that the incessant unease in the NDDC is boiling to a crescendo following President Buhari’s approval of a forensic audit of the Commission from 2001 to 2019. Those who have had unethical dealings in the Commission have left no stone unturned in their efforts to truncate the exercise. Fortunately, Mr. President has, both in words and action, demonstrated unwavering commitment to unearth the itchy fingers behind the stealing of humongous budgets appropriated for the development of the Niger delta region. Sadly, and most shocking, are incontrovertible revelations that most of the infractions recorded in the bleeding commission were brazenly committed by those who, ordinarily, were entrusted to protect the common wealth of the Niger Delta region. 

That Senator Godswill Akpabio is in the eyes of the storm is therefore no surprise; man that has been mostly misjudged by his party men for their misplaced fear of being outshined. Some of them believe that allowing Akpabio to function without hindrance will open another window to replicate the feat in Akwa Ibom State which earned him the sobriquet, “The Uncommon Transformer”, thereby putting him ahead of other leaders from the region, or at most, give him an edge over many of them. 

How can we forget, so soon, the “Honourable-Minister-off-the-Mic” incident during the probe of activities of the Commission at the National Assembly? The hunter suddenly became the hunted when the raw truth started coming out, hence the heart-felt appeal for the minister to off the mic. That Senator Akpabio could speak truth to power in the full glare of everybody watching across the globe, is a testimonial that he has nothing to hide concerning the NDDC.  

Nigerians have not forgotten the startling revelation that a single senator was awarded 300 contracts, out of which 120 were fully paid for without commensurate job execution? Should Nigerians be reminded that it is the huge number of these phantom contracts that have left a debt burden of over N3 trillion hanging on the neck of the Commission? Should Nigerians be cowed by the blistering undertakers who are desperate to divide the living child because theirs died last night? Certainly not! 

As a sharp contrast from what used to obtain before, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has   demonstrated leadership in its determination not to be part of any politically-motivated protest that would destabilise the region. According to the IYC President Worldwide, Peter Timothy Igbifa, “parents should monitor the activities of their children and stop them from engaging in any demonstration, especially the one targeting the occupation of NDDC headquarters using the name of IYC.” It is therefore expected that other youth groups in the region should borrow a leaf from the IYC in the journey to making the NDDC achieve the desired purpose. 

Rather than distract the Sole Administrator of the Commission from delivering on his assignment, Niger Deltans, and indeed Nigerians, should be concerned about the overall decrepit infrastructure and downward slope of human capital that abound in the region.  The commission is presently passing through a season of realization and rebirth, and the best Nigerians can offer now is understanding, devoid of any grandstanding by filthy players whose fingers are already soiled by their unbridled love for and commitment to the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region. The time to check these scavengers is now. 

Written By Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe

President, Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative

CitizensQuest247@gmail.org